Transfers 2014/2015 Continued

First topic message reminder :

Well silly season is almost upon us so thought I would keep tabs on the comings and goings.  Will put the confirmed transfers, unconfirmed transfers (rumours) and out of contract players into various columns.  Please post any news or rumours and I will keep the original post updated.

Confirmed
Jon Davies (Scarlets) to Clermont
Regan King (Clermont) to Scarlets
Ian Evans (Ospreys) to Toulon
John Afoa (Ulster) to Gloucester
Rory Kockott (Castres) to Toulon (reportedly trying to cancel deal to stay at Castres)
Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) to Gloucester
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) to Toulon
Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan) to Clermont
Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan) to Toulon
Robin Copeland (Blues) to Munster
Armitev (Northampton) to Russia (unconfirmed club)
Qera (Gloucester) to Toulouse
Casey Laulala (Munster to France (Club unconfirmed but thought to be Racing Metro)
Tom Court (Ulster) to London Irish
Andre Pretorius (Blues) to Worcester
Zac Guildford (New Zealand) to Clermont
Sivivatu (Clermont) to Castres
Aled Brew (Biarritz) to Dragons
Lee Byrne (Clermont) to Dragons
Dwayne Peel (Sale) to Bristol
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester) to Exeter
Dan Evans (Dragons) to Ospreys
Ieuan Jones (Dragons) to Blues
Jean-Philippe Genevois (Biarritz) to Perpignan
Benoit Cabello (Clermont) to Perpignan
Sakiusa Matadigo (Racing) to Perpignan
Jonathan Wisniewski (Racing) to Grenoble
Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) to Toulon
Josh Turnbull (Scarlets) to Blues
Nick Abendanon (Bath) to Clermont
Anthony Perenise (Bath) to Bristol
Craig Mitchell (Exeter) to Blues
Hoani Tui (Exeter) to Lyon
Tavis Knoyle (Gloucester) to Blues
Marland Yarde (London Irish) to Harlequins
Neil Cochrane (Wasps) to Edinburgh
Henry Thomas (Sale) to Bath
Josh Matavesi (Worcester) to Ospreys
Nick Auterac (Saracens) to Bath
Boris Stankovich (Leicester) to Dragons
Bradley Davies (Blues) to London Wasps
Moray Low (Glasgow) to Exeter
Chris Cussiter (Glasgow) to Sale
Matt Stevens (Saracens) to Sharks
Sam Smith (Harlequins) to Worcester
James Gaskell (Sale) to Wasps
Eoin Griffin (Connacht) to London Irish
Sam Burgess (Rugby League) to Bath
Adam Hughes (Dragons) to Bristol
Sam Parry (Dragons) to Ospreys
Joe Rees (Ospreys) to Worcester
Ian Nagle (Munster) to Newcastle
Tom Guest (Halrequins) to London Irish
Luke Narraway (Perpignan) to London Irish
Freddie Burns (Gloucester) to Leicester
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys) to Bristol
Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) to Saracens
Toby Flood (Leicester) to Toulouse
Lote Tuquiri (Leinster) to NPC
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) to Castres
Ryan Jones (Ospreys) to Bristol
Greg Laidlaw (Edinburgh) to Gloucester
Brice Dulin (Castres) to Racing Metro
Antonie Claassen (Castres) to Racing Metro
Gio Aplon (South Africa) to Grenoble
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso) to Leicester
Robert Barbieri (Treviso) to Leicester
Loamanu (Treviso) to Leicester
Rob Hawkins (Leicester) to Newcastle
Ian Gough (London Irish) to Dragons



Unconfirmed
Michele Rizzo (Treviso) to Leicester



Out of Contract
Adam Jones (Ospreys) - Looks like he is signing for Ospreys/WRU as indicated in press
Keith Earls (Munster)
Daniel Bowden (Leicester)
Scott Hamilton (Leicester)



Retiring
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Andrew Sheridan (Toulon - unconfirmed)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
Sebastien Bruno (Toulon)
George Chuter (Leicester) moving to Worcester coaching
Johann Muller (Ulster)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester - unconfirmed)
Will James (Gloucester)

Hope so. Young Gray sounds like quite a unit.

Richie I don't rare because he is neither an enforcer nor a line out technician. Offers very little in the tight. Sale was humiliating but I've not seen any improvement since. Hamilton may be cumbersome and a penalty magnate but he can run a line out and gets stuck in. Give Hamilton a pre season with Gustard and he'll be a tackling machine.

Humphreys to Ulster confirmed.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Hope so. Young Gray sounds like quite a unit.

Richie I don't rare because he is neither an enforcer nor a line out technician. Offers very little in the tight. Sale was humiliating but I've not seen any improvement since. Hamilton may be cumbersome and a penalty magnate but he can run a line out and gets stuck in. Give Hamilton a pre season with Gustard and he'll be a tackling machine.

The problem always seems to be that he looks so great running ball in hand with the giant legs pumping and the blond locks blowing in the wind that it tends to prevent people asking if he is actually that good at anything else.

Now Charteris is being linked with a move to the Ospreys now. Lyn Jones is still weighing up his options by the look. Either way, i hope he comes back to Wales

lostinwales wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Hope so. Young Gray sounds like quite a unit.

Richie I don't rare because he is neither an enforcer nor a line out technician. Offers very little in the tight. Sale was humiliating but I've not seen any improvement since. Hamilton may be cumbersome and a penalty magnate but he can run a line out and gets stuck in. Give Hamilton a pre season with Gustard and he'll be a tackling machine.

The problem always seems to be that he looks so great running ball in hand with the giant legs pumping and the blond locks blowing in the wind that it tends to prevent people asking if he is actually that good at anything else.

By the sounds of that, he'd be nailing a Baywatch audition.

VinceWLB wrote:Benetton aren't going to back them anymore, wonder who will fund them, FIR?

Maybe a change in personnel can't do them any harm after the results they are having.

Treviso reverting to Italian super league of 8 teams and a new Italian regional franchise will be created to play with zebre in the pro 12.

It was abit weird having one owner club and one regional team owned by the union wasn't it ?

So we have signed Alex and Andy Tuilagi on 2 year contracts.

Not remotely impressed by Andy.

But Alex if he still has a bit about him could be a good signing. And could be a good help to all the youngsters...

Aye - Andy isn't the best of signings. We (Irish) had him on trial at the start of the season but he didn't do enough to feature.

Alesana could be a real coup though if he still has anything in the tank. Seems like DR is keen to go for a backline of size and power rather than finesse.

Perpignan's relegation probably means Charteris and Hook will be looking for new clubs. Also for the Welsh Regions there is the uncertainty of funding for next season as the WRU are still holding them to ransom on a participation agreement also the thorny issue of centrally contracted players.

If Hook gets signed by anyone its unlikely to be as a 10. He has demonstrated at Ospreys (behind Biggar) , Perpignan (behind Lopez and Allan) and Wales (behind everyone) that he is no more than a bench option or occasional at 10. He is, though a competent 15, and useful distributor at 13. Whist his defence makes him a big risk at 12, he is an excellent goal kicker, so a very useful squad player.

Charteris would be a great signing for any of the Welsh Regions. Of his former clubs, the Dragons probably need him most as the Scarlets have 3 very good locks already. Both the Blues and the now depleted Ospreys could really use a player of his talents to bolster their thin engine room resources.

You have to hope and pray the WRU will release their stranglehold of the games funding and allow the Regions to retain star players and strengthen their playing squads to ensure more competitive teams next season.

Centrally contracted players is a big issue. The WRU seem to favour basing players at the Blues; North, Alan Wyn Jones (both of whom declined the central contract) and Warburton (who sold out). It would not make a lot of sense if Adam Jones went to the Blues with Mitchell and Andrews there next season, but common sense and Welsh Rugby rarely go together!

SirBurger wrote:Aye - Andy isn't the best of signings. We (Irish) had him on trial at the start of the season but he didn't do enough to feature.

Alesana could be a real coup though if he still has anything in the tank. Seems like DR is keen to go for a backline of size and power rather than finesse.

Andy is probably a claus in Alex signing.

I just worry, becuase i was hioping young Kibirige and Sean Brown (a brilliant exciting young winger) were going to get a considerable bit of gametime next season. Alex coming in might reduce that.

Andy Tuilagi is a one truck pony and generally smashes the ball up the middle. He is a useful player but won't be wowing anybody. Big brother Alex is another matter. A great signing there. If he's still got it he will be invaluable though at 33 he might well be past his best especially by the end of his two year deal.

Seems like Ospreys are getting Charteris. Judas   

formerly known as Sam wrote:Andy Tuilagi is a one truck pony and generally smashes the ball up the middle. He is a useful player but won't be wowing anybody. Big brother Alex is another matter. A great signing there. If he's still got it he will be invaluable though at 33 he might well be past his best especially by the end of his two year deal.

Not even the Dragons wanted to keep him #HandslikeFeet

Andy will do ok, he's certainly better than Fitzy, although both have very suspect hands.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Andy Tuilagi is a one truck pony and generally smashes the ball up the middle. He is a useful player but won't be wowing anybody. Big brother Alex is another matter. A great signing there. If he's still got it he will be invaluable though at 33 he might well be past his best especially by the end of his two year deal.

In all fairness thats probably something we have missed this season. Big carriers in the backs or forwards making hard yards. Fitzy was the hope but the fact he couldnt hold the ball in contact has seen him go.

We've now got Alex a 33 yo, Andy a never has been and Taulava has been permanently injured all season for Wuss. Ill hold my judgement till i see them on the pitch next season.

It'll certianly give us options GF!

Andy is an certain upgrade on Fitzy, I'm 100% on that. I'm just not sure how we're going to set up.

He was unfit and made one or two decent breaks but couldn't offload. Hope he's improved.

Lee Smith looked Ok against us. Give him a pre season and he should add something to your back line. Young Joel at 10 with Blair at 9. The Tuilagi brothers and Sinoti. That should be a fair basis from which you can get the job done.

Falcons should be in better shape next season now they know what standard they need need to recruit at.

Actually Sam, whether its a change of tactics recently or the introduction of Hodgson finally at 10 we have played far better rugby.

Adam Powell is looking like on his way back to the form he used to show...and even Cato has looked quite good.

Add in the likes exciting talents of Kibirige and Sean brown and suddenly things are looking very promising for next season.

Just need to get Joel signed though, he's out of contract at the end of the season and nothing being reported of a new contract which is a worry!!

Certainty do need him to sign up. Clegg and Godman really have been below par. No idea where you'd find a replacement either.

Lloyd Fairbrother, 22 year old tighthead from Exeter academy and Plymouth Albion is moving to the Dragons.

Pretty much first choice for Albion, he's also started for Exe in LV and come off the bench in HC this season.

Is that definatley happening dubbelyew?

dragon4life wrote:Is that definatley happening dubbelyew?

Nothing official - saw it on tweets from the man himself (@CornishBarrel) and confirmed in Plymouth Herald.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Prop-Lloyd-Fairbrother/story-21076104-detail/story.html

Is he TH or LH?

TH

If he can scrummage I'll buy him a pasty

Could you buy him a haircut instead? #mullett

Is he Jack Nowell's Brother-Dad ?

More like Luke Cowan-Dickie's

I think they gave him the 'Pygmallion' treatment and clipped and shaved him for the big city

Confirmed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27348647

Welsh-qualified too apparently, through his Blaenavon-born mother. Another beardy ginger to add to our swelling ranks. Imagine how the pack might look in a few years time when these guys have developed.

Dan Bowden confirmed as leaving Tigers. Destination unknown but rumours are he's heading South and to the West of Leicester.

Signing for Munster.

http://m.skysports.com/article/rugbyunion//9306572

Knowsit17 wrote:Confirmed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27348647

Welsh-qualified too apparently, through his Blaenavon-born mother. Another beardy ginger to add to our swelling ranks. Imagine how the pack might look in a few years time when these guys have developed.

Ah the near unstoppable power of the ginger beard, but it's power isn't just for the forwardes. Nick Abendanon has also made a pact with the devil and got his own ginger face rug to boost his skills.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Hope so. Young Gray sounds like quite a unit.

Gray the younger just won Rabo Young Player of the Year earlier this evening. 

James Phillips on his way to London Scottish from Exe - best of luck, big fella

Luke Arscott to leave the Chiefs.

... or rather, if he finds another club that will take him, he will be let go early from his current contract. Off-field shenanigans apparently

We need a full back and are relatively local. He's a great player and i'd love to see him at the Rec, it would be a great, cheap option to replace Bendy.

Surely Watson is Bendys natural replacement next season? But Arscott would be a good signing non the less.

Cory Flynn signs for Toulouse from Crusaders.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Surely Watson is Bendys natural replacement next season? But Arscott would be a good signing non the less.

He's very much considered a winger that covers full back. Having only Watson and Henson as full backs, both in cover roles would be a big risk, so having an out and out FB to replace Bendy, preferably an experienced one, is still preferable.

Driver wrote:Cory Flynn signs for Toulouse from Crusaders.

Bit of a surprise, wasn't he close to a NZ spot.

Just named 4 hooker , 2 uncapped ahead of him today.

The Saint wrote:Ospreys so far have recruited Gareth Thomas (one of Samson Lee's front row mates from the U20), Lock Rynier Bernardo, centre Josh Matavesi, full-back Dan Evans and hooker Sam Parry. Probably all would have been cheap and are pretty decent players, they haven't made intelligent signings like these in years. I fancy Blues to be the best performing Welsh team next season though.

Agree Saint. Apart from the last sentence... 

Would be a great coup getting Charteris. We do love ex NGD players...

Luke Arscott heavily rumoured to be returning to Brizzle

Quite probably rubbish but Tomas O'Leary to Leinster is doing the rounds...

As is Gopperth to Falcons

Ye Burger that is rubbish, Boss and Reddan have both signed new contracts.

Is TOL out of contract?

TOL is still in contract - I also suspect it is rubbish but the guy who posted it on the Planet Rugby forum was fairly adamant. Although most of the replies said it seemed far-fetched.